France Calls For Force If Chemical Weapons Use Confirmed In Syria

A boy, affected by what
activists say is nerve gas, is treated at a hospital in the Duma
neighbourhood of Damascus August 21, 2013. Syrian activists
accused President Bashar al-Assad's forces of launching a nerve
gas attack on rebel-held districts near Damascus on Wednesday
that they said killed more than 200 people. There was no
immediate comment from Syrian authorities, who have denied using
chemical weapons during the country's two-year conflict, and have
accused rebels of using them, which the rebels deny.REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh

France is seeking a reaction with "force" if a massacre in Syria
involving chemical weapons is confirmed, French Foreign Minister
Laurent Fabius said Thursday, although he ruled out the use of
ground troops.

"If it is proven, France's position is that there must be a
reaction, a reaction that could take the form of a reaction with
force," Fabius told BFM-TV.

"There are possibilities for responding," he said without
elaborating.

The main Syrian opposition group claims that as many as 1,300
people were killed in a chemical weapons attack Wednesday on
rebel areas near Damascus.

Videos distributed by activists, the authenticity of which could
not immediately be verified, showed medics attending to
suffocating children and hospitals being overwhelmed.

In June, Fabius had raised the possibility of using military
force against chemical arms production centres after France
confirmed that Damascus had resorted to such weapons.

But on Thursday the foreign minister said there was "no question"
of sending in ground troops, adding "it's impossible."

If Wednesday's attack is confirmed, "I believe it cannot go
without a reaction from those who believe in international
legality," Fabius said.

"If the Security Council cannot take a decision, at that moment
decisions must be taken in another way. How? I would not go
further," he said.

UN Security Council members are seeking "clarity" on the
suspected chemical weapons attack.

But diplomats said the council did not adopt a formal declaration
because of opposition from Russia and China, which have for the
last two years blocked any condemnation of their ally in
Damascus.

"The Russians must assume their responsibilities," Fabius said.

"We are in a phase where it must be believed that the Security
Council members are consistent. All said that chemical weapons
should not be used. They all signed an international accord which
bans their use, including the Russians," he said.